Hockey Magazine Edmonton by Suggitt Publishers

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Sidney Crosby, Timbits player 1993

We are all players. We are all fans. Hockey brings families together. Which is why, Tim Hortons is proud to support the over 1900 boys and girls who play Timbits Hockey, right here in Edmonton & the Surrounding Area. The first goal is having fun.

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

President’s Message

Publisher’s Message

21.

10. Hockey Edmonton: Recreational League By R John Hayes 13.

Heads Up! How to Properly Fit a Helmet

Family & Players! Ensuring the Right Fit By D.T. Baker

24. Wendy’s Arena Locator Map 26. Sport Nutrition By Crystal Phillips

14. A Capital Idea for the Capital City

Oilers Downtown Arena Plans

30. 50 Goal Scorers:

When Do They Peak?

By Jon Hagan

By John McNab

33. Training Tips from the Pros By Andrea Goss

18. When Education Meets Hockey By Andrea Goss Hudson Norris is featured on our cover this issue. Hudson, who turns seven in November, took the time to answer a few of our questions.

43. Spotlight on an Official By Rob Suggitt

School: St. Paul Elementary School Hockey: First year Novice for Riverview Favourite position: Centre Favourite hockey team: Edmonton Oilers Favourite hockey player: Wayne Gretzky Role model: His Dad Cover Photo, Courtesy of Stephen Kathnelson

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

www.argyllmotorsports.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Finally! After months of anticipation and summer preparation by athletes, coaches and administrators, the 2010-11 hockey season is underway. I hope you’ve all enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to another great experience. This season marks the fifth straight year of enrolment growth. Welcome one and all. The 2010-11 season promises to be an exciting season with Terwillegar Recreation Centre coming on stream. Look for another very exciting Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week to be one of the inaugural events. We’ll wrap up the season with another great event at TRC with the hosting of the 2011 Tim Hortons Timbits Jamboree that is expected to double in size this season – imagine the energy and excitement that 96 initiation teams, their friends and family will bring to the building as they use all four sheets of ice concurrently! Among the many news items to report on is the excitement generated with the hiring of our new general manager, Dean Hengel. Dean brings a wealth of sport management, marketing, special event management, as well as coaching experience and knowledge to our hockey family. A goal of Hockey Edmonton is to create an environment where our players enjoy their hockey and can perform to the best of their abilities. All of our member associations that deliver programs to our athletes have hit the ground running with numerous development opportunities for players and coaches. Evaluations and team selections are well underway as is the start of the competitive season for many of the teams. Planning for special events and clinics (player and coach) is well underway. Thanks to each and every individual that works so tirelessly behind the scene so that our athletes can have a great experience. Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) is the buzzword in sport across our nation. Hockey Edmonton with, the leadership of our Development Team, is looking at best practices that fit the needs of our membership in terms of access, developmental and competitive opportunities, such that one and all can enjoy life long physical activity and participation in the sport of hockey. Hockey Edmonton: an incredible sport experience, great hospitality, camaraderie and friendship, an organization true to the spirit of hockey. I trust you share my belief that we have so much to offer our members, supporters and sponsors. I look forward to seeing you in an arena soon!

2010-2011 Executive and League Directors 10618 - 124 St., Edmonton, AB T5N 1S3 Ph: (780) 413-3498 • Fax: (780) 440-6475

www.hockeyedmonton.ca To contact any of the Executive or Standing Committees please visit our website

President: Chris Hurley Past President: Lorne MacDonald First Vice President: Betty Chmilar Second Vice President: Ray Vigneau Treasurer: Barry Bentz Junior Chairman: Fred Christiansen Federation Chairman: Darlene Hein AA Chairman: Jerry Rossiter General Manager: Dean Hengel Asst. Administrator: Loree Dawson

Standing Committees Hockey Alberta Director(s): Paul Schmidt | Lorne MacDonald Hockey Alberta Manager of Operations: Betty Chmilar Hockey Edmonton Alumni President: Jim Glaister Registrar: Nadine Shimizu Publicity: Brad Kurylyk Ice: Bernie Coderre Discipline Chair: Marg Brownoff Minor Hockey Week Chair: Rod McMahon Development Manager: Chris Woodhouse Social: Vern Davis Canadian Oldtimers Rep: Orest Zaozirny Referee Representatives: Herman Costa (AA) | Duncan MacDougall (Federation)

City League Directors

Federation Hockey Council League Directors Midget: Doug Buhler Bantam: Art Wilson Pee Wee: Crystal Feader Atom: Judy/Kevin Nitz Novice: Kasey Kozicky Initiation: Steve Sweeny

Hockey Edmonton Recreational League Directors: Greg Goss | Brett Finch

AA Council League Directors Bantam AA: Russ Lukawesky Bantam AAA: Peter Claffey REM 15: Clarence Warnke Midget AA: Brian Backstrom Major Midget AAA: Bob Olynyk Minor Midget AAA: Greg Blais

Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week Committee

Sincerely, Chris Hurley President,

Chairperson: Rod McMahon Past Chairpersons: Joan Kirillo and Terry Brown Vice Chairperson: Bill Renshaw Committee: Vern Davis Treasurer: Deb Bykowski Secretary: Ana Bennett Marketing: Dean Heuman Central: Bill Ross Schedules: Ron Sollanych Discipline: Marg Brownoff Sponsorship: Marvin Babiuk

HOCKEY EDMONTON

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE Welcome back to another hockey season! In this issue of the magazine, we have a few articles about fitness and hockey. There are some excellent facilities in the greater Edmonton region, and Athletes Nation is one of these facilities. It’s probably better to describe Athletes Nation as a performance centre rather than a fitness centre. Training hockey players is their specialty, and they take pride in dealing with athletes from a broad spectrum, all the way up to top junior players like Turner Elson (Red Deer Rebels) and Cody Chikie (Kelowna Rockets) to Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames. We also sought out some other experts in the area of hockey training, and one of these experts, Simon Bennett, is the strength and conditioning coach for the Edmonton Oilers. Bennett is the president and co-founder of Body by Bennett, and his expertise and experience with training athletes is unparalleled. Diet and nutrition play a key role, and we are pleased to introduce Crystal Phillips to our magazine. Phillips is a high caliber speed skater, who overcame some great obstacles to get where she is today. Phillips is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, and in this issue, she shares some of her background, along with some tips on healthy eating. The health of hockey is important and Hockey Edmonton is always looking for ways to accommodate all levels of hockey players and their interests. The Hockey Edmonton Recreational League is a great option for hockey players who wish to play hockey in a different competitive environment and with less intensity or commitment than traditional hockey leagues. The rec league has a lighter schedule, and it’s co-ed, with boys and girls playing together. There is no hitting, and slap shots are not allowed, but it’s still hockey. It’s a great option for players who wish to play hockey, and stay in hockey, in an environment which is more suitable to balancing other time commitments. One of those time commitments is education, and in this issue of the magazine, we have a feature article on the Oilers@School and Ice School programs. Both programs are designed to captivate the attention and interest of school kids by incorporating features through a hockey arena, figuratively, and sometimes quite literally. It’s another example of the Oilers’ positive contribution to the community. There is a lot of excitement surrounding the new Oilers and their bevy of young players. There is also a lot of excitement and interest surrounding the Oilers’ plans for the proposed downtown arena project. It can be a contentious subject matter, but you have to admire the effort and commitment of the Oilers’ organization to building a winner in this hockeymad city and their plans to build a state-of-the-art facility in the downtown area, one which would revitalize and energize the downtown core. That’s it for this issue, with more planned in our next edition, which comes out during Quikcard Edmonton Minor Hockey Week in January. In the meantime, we wish all participants in minor hockey a safe and enjoyable 2010-2011 season! Hockey is a great sport, and a wonderful experience, with memories and achievements which build fitness, character and friendships. Best wishes to all!

Credits President and Publisher Rob Suggitt Vice President Stephen Kathnelson Art Director Christine Kucher Graphic Designers Terah Jans | Cole McKelvie

Cover Photo Stephen Kathnelson

Copy Editing Shari Narine

Additional Photography Credits Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club: Andy Devlin | George Fourlaris Stephen Kathnelson | Shari Narine

Special Thanks To Jessica McPhee & The Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club

Administration Amber Braithwaite Playhouse Publications Ltd. also publishes the Citadel Theatre Playbill, Edmonton Opera Playbill, Arden Theatre Playbill, Fringe Theatre Adventures Playbill and the Hockey Calgary Magazine. #950, Bell Tower, 10104 - 103 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 0H8 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 The Hockey Edmonton Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd.

President & CEO Tom Suggitt President & CFO Rob Suggitt All rights reserved. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed within do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher or Hockey Edmonton. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. www.Suggitt.com

Printed by: R.R. Donnelley

Sincerely, Rob Suggitt Publisher, EDMONTON HOCKEY MAGAZINE

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Photos provided by George Fourlaris

By R John Hayes

Organizers are looking for continuing growth in the Hockey Edmonton Recreational League going into 2010-11. “Last season, we had 20 teams, about 340 kids,” explained co-director Greg Goss. “This year we expect to have around 30 teams and 450 kids involved.” The Recreational League is a different offering from traditional competitive hockey leagues, and is filling a niche for many players unable or unwilling to conform to the more competitive tiered leagues. The play is co-ed, with boys and girls mixing, there is no hitting and there are no slapshots. The teams play once a week, on the weekend. “Even though it’s a non-body checking league, this is not the reason a lot of these kids come over,” said Brett Finch, the league’s other co-director. “In this league, you don’t have to be all in. You get into some of the other leagues, and it’s kind of your life choice. But with hockey that takes up three or four or five days a week, you’re competing with a lot of things: indoor soccer, the Internet, online games or x-box, school. “We have kids who come from Midget AA,’” Finch continued, “they’re awesome players, but they want to focus on something else: school, another sport, a hobby. Recreational hockey allows them to stay involved in hockey while going for what they want to go for outside hockey.”

“This is a place that kids can go,” agreed Goss. “The EMHA, they would like kids who drop out to find a place to go, to be aware that there is an alternative. We don’t want to take away from the EMHA, but we want to capture the kids who were never there or who are thinking of leaving. This gives them a chance to have a positive experience and not leave hockey.” The rec league will kick off this year in mid-October with a single practice, which will double as a “meet and greet” mixer. The schedule will begin a week later, and each team will play 18 games over the course of the winter. There will be one more mid-season practice, but that’s it for commitment, and for many over-extended players and parents, that’s enough. Divisions will accommodate Peewee (ages 11 and 12) Bantam (ages 13 and 14) and Midget (ages 15 to 17) players, and games will be officiated by Hockey Alberta certified officials. “With EMHA taking co-ed rec hockey under its wing,” Goss said, “with its organizational capabilities, the combined efforts of a single league within the city of Edmonton, this is ready to take off.” There are many reasons that a girl or boy might choose to register in this league. Finch outlined a few, including the trend for kids to look city-wide for specialized schools. “This means that kids’ friends now live all over the place,” he said, “They’re not all from the same neighbourhood, as they were when we were growing up. We have everybody all over greater Edmonton -- after all, you play once a week, so we don’t worry so much about travel. Kids can play in the rec league with their friends.” The league also includes players from St. Albert, Sherwood Park and the rest of metro Edmonton. “Younger kids love it because of time commitments, especially their parents, but older kids have part-time jobs and they are involved in other things,” Finch said. “A lot of rep teams and higher teams, if you miss a practice or a game, you can lose your place in the rotation. Here there’s no punishment for missing a game, and there are no practices.” “The big drop out is when hitting starts when they’re 11 and 12,” confirmed Goss, “and when they’re 13, 14 and 15 and they start getting jobs and girlfriends. What gives a lot of times is hockey, and we don’t want to lose them from the sport. This gives them an

alternative so that they can play one game a weekend, stay involved in a sport they like.” Finch talked about a young man, focused on becoming a doctor, who loved hockey, but not enough to endanger his career. At 16, he was ready to drop out of competitive hockey altogether, due to the time commitments, but the rec league allowed him to keep playing. The league is also somewhat flexible in that teams are adjusted so that there are no blowouts. One rule of note is that no player can score more than three goals in one game. (“Doesn’t mean he can’t score for the other team,” Finch joked.) And kids can play with siblings and friends, even if they would normally be separated by tier or strict age categories, on a case-by-case basis. Scores are not recorded, nor are there standings or playoffs. Both Finch and Goss talked about how the league has fostered a fun and sharing atmosphere within teams and between teams. “Hockey is an emotional sport, and the competitive juices get going even in a recreational league,” Finch said. “We do have a disciplinary committee, and we do have the odd player cross the line, but they have been very few.” “It’s a wide variety,” Goss said. “But we get a lot of tremendous hockey players, and we also have a lot of kids who are pond hockey players, good rink rats but not able to commit to the kind of schedule, and there are also novices, girls and boys who haven’t played until they’re as old as 16.” They are made to feel welcome by the other players, he said, and this has brought home for him just how much fun the league can be.

“Coaches get strong instruction that they cannot bring the competitive attitude from rep hockey,” he continued, “although this is not competitive, if you know what I mean. Within the game, it is competitive, too. But when we can get the coaches to do a good job, we get great kids.” And that’s what it’s all about in the end. “Rec hockey is about playing with your friends and having fun,” Finch said. “The key point is getting the message out that there is this option for players and parents.”

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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If you shake your head up and down or side to side does your helmet remain in place snugly? If you said no, your helmet may not fit your head well enough. As a result, your helmet may shift and either expose parts of your head or fall enough and leave you with no protection. Under these circumstances, we’d recommend that you visit a local retailer to confirm that your helmet fits properly and offers you enough protection.

Photo provided by Stephen Kathnelson

How old are you? You should have your helmet evaluated at the beginning of every season to ensure proper fit and protection. If your helmet is expanded to the maximize size in order to fit, it’s time to shop around for a new helmet.

Do you wear a full face shield? Full facial shield protection offers you protection against serious eye and dental injuries as well as facial lacerations. Some of these injuries can leave you with permanent disabilities that may impact both your sporting career as well as future career and lifestyle opportunities.

Have you tampered with your current helmet in any way to make it fit better (ie. cut foam, molded it with heat)? That’s a big no-no. Your helmet was designed to help reduce the severity of any impact you may sustain to your head. Tamper with the helmet and you may be gambling with your life. If your helmet doesn’t fit well enough, visit a local retailer and select a better fitting helmet. If you’ve tampered with your current helmet, visit a local retailer and purchase a new one before returning to play.

How long have you used your current helmet? Helmet design has improved in the past five years to offer you better foam protection, fitting options and overall protection against injury. Based on your response to this question, we’d recommend that you visit a local retailer and consider purchasing a new helmet.

Have you ever sustained a head or facial injury wearing your current helmet? If you answered yes, your helmet may or may not have contributed to your previous injury. Under these circumstances, we’d recommend that you visit a local retailer to confirm that you don’t need to replace your helmet with a new one.

Do you take your helmet out to dry after use? Your answer should be yes. One of the things that accelerates the deterioration of the padding material in a helmet is moisture. If you’d like to extend the life of your helmet, we’d recommend that you hang all of your equipment at room temperature, including your helmet after each use.

Is the foam inside your helmet soft and absorbent with no cracks in it? If your padding is getting too hard or dry it may not be able to absorb shock as well and increase the risk and severity of any injury. Remember, that thin layer off foam is all there is to absorb and cushion any impact. Therefore, you want great foam!

Are there any cracks in the outer shell of your helmet? The hard plastic material that makes up your helmet shell is designed to distribute any impact force over a wide area. If the plastic is old and/or damaged in any way, it may not offer you the force distribution and shock absorption you’re after and need. The severity of any impact to your head could be greater with a damaged helmet.

With your helmet on and chin strap done up, can you fit more than two fingers between your jaw and chin strap? Your chin strap is critical in maintaining the position of your helmet on your head. Your helmet may shift or fall off during a collision and offer your head no protection whatsoever. Reduce the risk of your helmet shifting too much or falling off by tightening your chin strap to allow only two fingers beneath your chin.

Do you feel confident that your helmet will protect you in the event of collision or blow to the head? In order to play well and enjoy the game of hockey, you need to have confidence that your equipment will offer you enough protection in the event of a collision, fall or bodycheck. If you have some doubt in the quality and protection your current helmet offers, we’d advise you to purchase a new helmet and increase your confidence in your equipment.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

By Jon Hagan

As far as surroundings and amenities go, some might say that Edmonton isn’t a serious consideration for large numbers of people when it comes to being a relocation or tourist destination. Our universities are top-notch, but loads of our graduates move onto other cities when they’re done. Sure we’re close to boreal forests, but topographically we’re basically flat. Of course, we have a beautiful winding river valley, but not much to draw people to its shores. With the exception of some seasonal anomalies, our winters are harsh; our summers mild. We don’t have the mountains in our backyard, and you can’t look out your window and see the ocean. 14

Roughguides, an online travel guide, describes Edmonton as follows: “in the teeth of its bitter winters – it can seem a little too far north for comfort …. The city tries hard with its festivals, parks, restaurants and urban-renewal projects. Yet, given the somewhat unfinished feel of its downtown, it’s perhaps appropriate that the premier attraction for the vast majority of visitors is a shopping centre, the infamous West Edmonton Mall. Edmonton lacks the big set-piece museums of Calgary or Vancouver.” It’s tough not to wince when reading the above paragraph; be that as it may I guess we have to accept our fate that Edmonton is too northerly, not quite urban enough, and certainly lacking the vision that a capital city should have.

Whoa. I hope you got the sarcasm in that. While we may be situated far north of the 49th the cold hasn’t impaired our ability to think big, and we certainly don’t lack vision. Sometimes, however, we just lack the fortitude to see that vision through. Take 1968 for example. In October of that year a proposal to develop an all-inclusive space replete with a hockey rink, elevated football field, conference centers, and theatre space, among other things, was put before Edmontonians during a municipal election. The proposed project was to be called Omniplex, and its purpose, along with plans for the development of rapid transit, was to stimulate the revitalization of the downtown core. More than 70 percent of voters were in favour. For a variety of reasons, the plan to see this bold vision through to fruition failed. Omniplex never got off the ground. However, out of the ashes rose two well known Edmonton facilities: Northlands Coliseum and the conference center on Grierson Hill now sponsored by Shaw; the former is now considered seriously out of date, and only one of them could ever really be said to have had an impact on downtown. Fast forward four decades, and we’re again being presented with a bold vision aimed at revitalizing the core: the Edmonton Arena District (EAD).

“From the beginning, we have pursued a vision that we believe will benefit all Edmontonians by creating jobs, by providing a significant investment into our urban core, by shrinking our environmental footprint and by developing a world-class entertainment and sports district in our downtown,” said Bob Black, executive vice president of Sports and Entertainment for the Katz Group. “Edmonton is the gateway to Northern Alberta, a region that has become a global energy leader. There is currently $120 billion of committed investment in Northern Alberta with much more to come. A new downtown arena district can represent Edmonton’s potential, its capacity to be bold and think big and its future as a leading northern city. Edmonton’s need for a new arena provides an opportunity to create a major catalyst in the ongoing revitalization of downtown which will contribute to a positive sense of momentum in our city that is worthy of our potential and our place in the world,” said Black.

The brainchild of Edmonton businessman Daryl Katz, the EAD is being posited as not merely a new development with plans for hotels, retailers, residential housing, a significant public space, as well as a new home for the Edmonton Oilers, but a complete reinvention of Edmonton’s downtown. And if you’ve ever looked for a cup of coffee, a bookstore, a shop – anything other than a restaurant or bar downtown after 5:00 p.m., you’ll agree that reinvention isn’t too strong a word.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Like most others in the Katz Group, Black has investments other than just business to consider when discussing the revitalization of downtown Edmonton. “I have an 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son playing minor hockey in Edmonton,” he said when asked how the EAD might affect Hockey Edmonton. “I coached in the Edmonton minor hockey system for almost 10 years. The district will include a community rink for minor hockey and public skating. I’m sure the amateur hockey community would welcome a new sheet of ice in a central location.” Over the long term, Black is confident that the EAD will contribute to the city’s success. “We believe this project can bring economic growth and development, increased tourism, the ability to attract more corporate head offices, increased density to make our environmental footprint smaller and our streets safer, civic pride and the kind of cultural life that will make Edmonton an even greater northern city and help us attract capital investment and the best and brightest people.”

“Sprawl [has] left many areas without a concentrated critical mass of activity that could establish a region’s image through central meeting areas with unique architecture that also offers unique social and cultural experiences at theatres, museums, and at facilities that host sporting events,” says Rosentraub’s report, which can be found on the City of Edmonton’s website. Rosentraub, who was a contributor to Mayor Stephen Mandel’s leadership committee, argues that the development of malls outside the core have effectively neutralized city centers, but that it’s the downtown experience, not the suburban one that differentiates one urban center from another; in the end, to a large degree, it’s a vibrant core that makes one city more desirable than another. This is further amplified when a city’s surroundings are fairly plain compared to a more topographically blessed neighbour.

“A new downtown arena district can represent Edmonton’s potential, its capacity to be bold and think big and its future as a leading northern city. “

This thinking isn’t relegated merely to the Katz Group and the other locals that support the idea of the EAD. In a 47-page report written by Dr. Mark Rosentraub of Cleveland State University, it suggests that, in part, due to our city’s mundane natural environment and sustained suburban sprawl, we must seriously consider redeveloping our downtown core with an arena district as its focal point if we want to reestablish Edmonton as a viable destination for tourism, relocation, and study.

“Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco each have suburban areas, but they insured that downtown areas remained vital through the provision of unique experiences that could not be replicated in suburban malls. After decades of growth, cities like San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles began to wonder what their image was and how it could be sustained without a vibrant core. These areas, similar to slower-growth regions in America’s Midwest, began to focus on strategies to build or rebuild downtown areas to establish an identity and to advance the region’s overall development. This process was even more critical for cities reliant on traditional industries or lacking physical features that made them among the most desirable places to live and work.”

“This game connects us. It’s woven into the fabric of our city and our country,” said Black. “I enjoy live theatre, art or music as much as anyone, but it seems like hockey is our most common of bonds. This all underscores to me that we are pursuing a worthy cause.”

“Sam really enjoyed himself, but the most important thing is that he said that it has helped him with his skating. He noticed that his first time back on the ice after the camp that he felt different and the instruction he got from you guys has changed some of his habits (for the better!).” - WHL Dad

The significance of Edmonton as a whole is not found in one or another community, but in the destination areas where we congregate, celebrate, and partake in cultural experiences as part of a larger group, and with our city expanding outward at an ever increasing rate this becomes more difficult to do, especially in the middle of winter. What holds us together as the community of Edmonton: The City of Champions; The Gateway to the North? Where do we go to come together? The answer lies in the centre of town with a rink at its heart. “This game connects us. It’s woven into the fabric of our city and our country,” said Black. “I enjoy live theatre, art or music as much as anyone, but it seems like hockey is our most common of bonds. This all underscores to me that we are pursuing a worthy cause.” The Katz Group has been both lauded and criticized when it comes to the proposed Edmonton Arena District. Opinions vary, but the crux of the matter is that talk of the need to revitalize our downtown has been ongoing for decades. Now we have a guy that’s willing to contribute millions of dollars of his own money to see it through. Only time will tell if we have the fortitude to see it through with him.

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Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Photos provided by Andy Devlin, Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club By Andrea Goss

At some point in most people’s lives they’ve been caught daydreaming at school when they were supposed to be learning the square root of 36, the difference between two, too, and to, or how molecules are formed. But what happens when teachers combine regular curriculums with the ever-popular and exciting world of Edmonton Oilers hockey? The Oilers@School and ICE School programs are a unique approach to curing those daydreams and keeping kids interested in school. By combining standard curriculum material with Oilers and Rexall Place related content, teachers have the chance to enhance the educational experience of their classes.

Teachers can sign up for the program at Oilers@School.com and receive over 50 engaging classroom ready projects, stories and resources for free. Topics span a broad range of subjects including language, math, social studies, fine arts and physical education - all with an Oilers flavour.

While both programs are focused on enticing elementary and junior high students to learn, Oilers@School is designed to be used right in the classroom where ICE School transports the classroom to Rexall Place for the week.

“My favourite part was the recipe for success and how it tied into our leadership program,” said Jennine Jensen, a teacher with the Edmonton Public School Board. “I want the kids to know how these players are more than just hockey players, they’re leaders in the community.”

Oilers@School is a web-based program presented by Cenovus Energy, allowing teachers to download hockey-themed resources designed to add a fun new twist to specific components of the Alberta Education curriculum. “Education is such a fundamental part of a child’s life and we’re so proud to provide fun and easy resources that help keep students engaged in learning,” said Trevor Murphy, Oilers Manager, Community and Fan Development.

Each year, the Oilers@School program introduces new curriculum material using past and present Oilers. Last year’s program saw new science topics added to the downloadable resource and included a new section covering French. While the program was designed to cater to Grades 4 through 6, elementary and junior high teachers have the flexibility to adjust the resources to fit their individual needs. Whether choosing to use all 50 provided lessons or just a few here and there, adding the hockey element into existing curriculum allows students to connect to the learning through one of Oil Country’s biggest passions. “I am a big hockey fan, an Oilers fan, and most of my students are interested in hockey or the Oilers in some way, so Oilers@School hooks them,” said Jensen. Over the past year, more than 1,700 educators and 65,000 students have participated in the Oilers@School program. While Oilers@School is intended to aid regular classroom learning, ICE School breaks through the confines of the classroom, bringing students and teachers to the fascinating world of Rexall Place for an entire week. Here students have the opportunity to

read, write, observe, interview and calculate both in the Rexall Place classroom and the arena itself. “This experience provides the students with the opportunity to take learning outside the classroom and be actively engaged in a number of unique activities,” said Jayne Schroffel, a teacher with the Edmonton Public School Board. According to Sandy VanRiper, program coordinator for ICE School, the main objective of the week is for students to learn about and partake in primary research. Teachers and students start this process even before their Ice School week arrives by learning pivotal skills in proper interviewing techniques, the value of creating a drawing from your own perspective and how to record accurate observations. Once the actual week arrives, the real fun begins. Students are presented with a journal where they utilize the skills and lessons they’ve learned to collect key facts, transcribe interviews, draw sketches, and record their overall impressions. “The week is like raw material. We’re collecting a great deal of data, impressions and information, and we’re recording them in this journal,” said VanRiper.

Amongst the interviews, sketches and activities, a definite highlight of last year’s ICE School was getting to walk on the media catwalk just below the rafters of Rexall Place.

“I tell students, ‘if you get in this habit, you’re going to learn stuff about yourself, you’re going to learn stuff about your life.’ A journal is really important.”

This truly unique experience led VanRiper to creating the overall theme for this year’s ICE School Season.

During their time at Ice School, students participate in a variety of activities that translates to both their curriculum and real life situations. For one activity, VanRiper has the students take metre sticks and measure the circumference of the Rexall Place concourse. From there, they record the data in their journals and have ultimately completed a math exercise while performing primary research. Another activity involves mapping and having the students find several different sections of seats throughout the lower and upper bowls. Once there, students must research the price of the seats, record pros and cons of the section and jot down any overall impressions.

“My theme this year is all around perspective or points of view,” said VanRiper. “That whole idea of going up to the top of the building and looking down on it and talking about a bird’s eye view versus being on the ice led me to this theme.” As their week at Ice School comes to an end, students take their journals back to their respective schools where their primary research is then used in more Oilers-related activities and lessons. “ICE School is not just a week, its engagement and enthusiasm lasts a whole year,” said Schroffel. Whether in their own schools or over at Rexall Place, there are so many fun and exciting ways to include the Edmonton Oilers in the classroom, creating a fascinating and memorable learning experience for students and teachers alike.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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By D.T. Baker

Billeting – finding a temporary home for junior hockey players – is absolutely crucial to a team being able to function. But for a billet situation to work, a lot of things have to go just right. Cheryl Scarlett knows that better than just about anyone. A billet herself, she’s also the coordinator of billeting for the Edmonton Oil Kings. When the WHL team reformed four years ago, not only did they set themselves the task of finding great billets for their players, they wanted to have them all in the same geographical area. “The decision was made to try and coordinate our billet families in and around the Sherwood Park area, and so that’s what we’ve done,” said Scarlett. “And in that respect, the Sherwood Park community has been just awesome in terms of opening up their homes.” The reasoning makes sense, particularly for those junior players who are still in school. “Most definitely, that was one of the major considerations – those that are still attending school are attending Salisbury Composite High School here in Sherwood Park,” Scarlett added. “Just the logistics of having them close to the school and arranging for the carpooling, because basically the players that have

vehicles are responsible for making sure that those without vehicles get to where they need to go – to school, to the rink, et cetera.” Roxanne Robertson and her husband had their own reasons for signing up as a billet. “We have two boys ourselves in hockey,” she explained, “and our oldest never had anyone he could look up to. We noticed that he was a big help with our youngest guy – he could always look up to someone, but it might be nice for our oldest son to have the same experience, with that older sibling.” And they found that, in the persons of Oil Kings Jordan Hickmott and Griffin Reinhart. “I’ve gone out to a couple of Tyler’s games already, and he’s actually a pretty good young player himself,” said Reinhart,

16, and a first-year Oil King. “And then Matthew, he’s the younger one, he’s nine, and he’s just going through his tryouts now, so I’m hoping to get out and see some of his games when they come up.”

L to R: Griffin Reinhart, Matthew Robertson and Jordan Hickmott Photo provided by Stephen Kathnelson

That ideal story is one you hear a lot with billet families. It works, not only for the team, but for the billets and the players as well. Reinhart is from West Vancouver, so he’s had a lot of adjustments to make. “It’s been a real surprise for me, actually,” he admitted. “I thought I’d miss home a little bit more, but being with the family here is kind of like being with my family back home. They’ve treated me like family, so I don’t really miss being away from home as much.”

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Having an experienced player as a roommate helps, too. “I wanted to be billeted with another teammate when I was asked,” said Reinhart of being billeted with Jordan Hickmott, “so I know what’s going on, and I’m not really alone. And I think he’s really helped a lot because I know him pretty well from all the hockey, so it makes me feel that much more like I’m at home when I’m here.” “My first billet family was in Medicine Hat when I was 16,” said Hickmott, 20, from Mission, BC. “It was different, obviously, because you’re used to home and everything, but I made the transition pretty easily, and then my billets were awesome, they became my second parents. It was pretty easy, they made me feel comfortable.” Time and again, you hear about the “awesomeness” of billets from the young players, and even those who are only housed temporarily – through training camp, perhaps – make a point of staying in touch with their billets on a regular basis. It works because it’s a painstaking process, Cheryl Scarlett said. “There is quite an extensive process involved once somebody indicates an interest. That includes a first visit where I go out and meet with the family. There is an application that they would fill out, we would ask for references, there is also a criminal record check involved for all the adults in the home. There is a second interview involved with the GM or the coach, or both, coming out to meet the family – because ultimately,

Jordan Hickmott Photo provided by Andy Devlin, EOHC

“It was different, obviously, because you’re used to home and everything, but I made the transition pretty easily, and then my billets were awesome, they became my second parents. It was pretty easy, they made me feel comfortable.”

when it’s all said and done, first off we want to make sure that we are comfortable from the team’s perspective with a home that a player would be going into; and secondly, we very much try to match up the personality of the family with the personality of the player going in there.”

You don’t get much for being a billet. A bit of monthly support, tickets to Oil Kings games – those are the material things. But Roxanne Robertson sees a lot more to it. “It’s been a lot more than I thought we’d get out of it, for sure,” she stated emphatically. “They’re really nice kids, and they easily blend into the family really quickly.” So the next time you’re at an Oil Kings game – or Sherwood Park Crusaders or Spruce Grove Saints or St. Albert Steel for that matter – keep in mind just how basic billet families are to the ability for a team to function. Without billets, Cheryl Scarlett said, the Oil Kings, “would not to be able to run a team.”

Griffin Reinhart Photo provided by Andy Devlin, EOHC

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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Hockey Edmonton Magazine

By Crystal Phillips

Hockey is an exceptionally competitive sport and a thin line can be drawn between what is a good hockey player and a great hockey player. So what is it that makes your teammate, who plays just as many games as you and follows the same on-ice and dryland programs as you, better? And what can make it within your power to cross that line? A sudden twist upsetting my career as an elite athlete has taught me the answer to that question. My personal gains as well as the progression I’ve seen in the many Olympians and pro-athletes that I have had the opportunity to work with are a testament to my belief that proper nutrition (and don’t forget that positive attitude) is never to be underestimated as a factor in making the leap from good to great!

The Twist... In the Spring of 2005, at 19, I plunged from being one of the top speed skaters in Canada to needing, but stubbornly resisting, the aid of a cane to walk. I lost feeling from my chest to my toes and vision in my left eye and was exhausted every waking minute. I received the devastating diagnosis of relapsingremitting multiple sclerosis. This is an auto-immune condition that, at any given moment, can affect nerve transactions, making for a long list of potential symptoms like muscle weakness and spasticity, fatigue, numbness and visual problems to name only a few. This sudden interruption of my life and athletic career established a turning point. I realized how much I took for granted and that this was a wake-up call to change that. Consequently it is because of the adversity I’ve had to face that my life has been transformed and enriched. Given some time eventually my question of “why me?” became “why not me, and what am I going to do about it?” Whether or not I wanted to continue skating was a no-brainer and there was no way MS would be the winner in my fight to get back on the ice. But to actually stay competitive

in skating with a neuro-muscular disease would be the challenge that ultimately set me on a path that has been lined with optimism and fulfillment. This challenge required that I reach outside of regular training to seek ways of achieving optimal health and, in turn, I was led to a career in natural nutrition.

I am now 24, still battling MS, yet training at an elite level, advancing on making the National Long Track Team and chasing my dream of qualifying for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. I work as the sport nutritionist and do my summer training at Athletes Nation in St. Albert and train at the Olympic Oval in Calgary throughout the winter season. When I am eating well (and thinking positively) I have high, consistent energy, feel stronger, and find it easier to stay focused. As a result, my MS symptoms have become much more manageable. Yes, following a healthy diet can be difficult at first. We are constantly surrounded by temptations of the “quick fix” foods, making it easy to fall back into a poor dietary routine. (Preparing a healthy meal or snack doesn’t mean it takes any more time.) I like to look at the challenges of overcoming the temptation and following a healthy and balanced diet as an opportunity to athletes. If it was easy, wouldn’t everyone do it? And those

that do will have the edge and have a better chance of being on the “great” side of the line. Take this opportunity and be patient with it. When you commit to and learn how to make healthy food choices your body will start to crave more health promoting foods. Eating healthy will become a new habit rather than a chore or sacrifice. Have fun with it, try new foods, learn new recipes and introduce a colourful diet full of variety, nutrients and flavour. I would not be competing at an elite level if optimal nutrition was not a part of my program. Remember as you start eating more vegetables and less sugary, processed food that in the end your results will make all your hard work worthwhile.

Cheers to a healthy future! Crystal Phillips RHN, Natural Nutritionist www.athletesnation.ca

Follow Crystal’s blog and learn more about her story at www.crystalpatches.com or contact Crystal to book an individual nutritional consultation, motivational speech or nutrition presentation.

403.200.0494 cphillips@athletes-nation.com

A Recipe to Try…. Bison Taco’s

*Why Bison? Bison has less than ½ the fat and almost double the iron than regular beef.

Ingredients: 6 Whole Grain Soft Tortilla’s 1lb Ground Bison 1 Organic Yellow Onion ¼ Cup Hummus 2 Cups Organic Spinach ½ Cup Salsa 1 Sliced Ripe Organic Avocado 1 Taco Seasoning (*see recipe below) Directions: 1) Brown bison in a saucepan with sliced onion. 2) Add seasoning and ¾ cup water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5-8 min. 3) Spread hummus and add salsa, spinach and avocado on the tortilla. 4) Add meat to the tortilla, wrap it up and enjoy!

Taco Seasoning Ingredients: 1 Tbsp chilli powder ¼ Tsp garlic powder ¼ Tsp onion powder ¼ Tsp crushed red pepper flakes ¼ Tsp dried oregano ½ Tsp paprika 1 ½ Tsp ground cumin 1 Tsp sea salt 1 Tsp black pepper Directions: Mix all ingredients and store in an airtight container. *If you would prefer to buy a taco seasoning package, look for one that does not contain any MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) for your nervous system’s sake.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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Before you read this article, play the following thought experiment. Ilya Kovalchuk signed with the New Jersey Devils for $100 million over 15 years. This averages to a cap-hit of $6.67 million per year until the year 2025. You are Lou Lamoriello. How many 50 goal, 40 goal and 30 goal seasons do you need to get out of Kovalchuk to make the deal worth it? Assume he’s going to play ten years and then retire. You won’t have to pay him the last $10 million, so the contract is effectively $90 million over ten years.

The first thing I invite you to do is to step back from the chart and forget about the numbers, just try to take in the pattern of the colours on the page, in relation to the vertical black line and the horizontal red one. Those of us feeling especially optimistic about paying Kovalchuk an average of $9 million a year for ten years ought to be somewhat alarmed to see that there really isn’t much red or orange to the right of the black line.

For that money, how many times does he have to hit each milestone? Take your time. Get the number in your head and hold it there and don’t change it. Ready? Okay. Now, on the following page is a chart that shows every player in the history of the NHL to have scored 50 goals in a season at least once. It shows the player’s output (goals only) for each season of his career, each season indicated by the age of the player in that season. So you can, for example, look down the first column to see who scored how many goals at age 18 (etc.). The second row calculates the average number of goals for all the players in this group who were active at that particular age (e.g. at age 25, the average output -- for this elite group of once-or-future 50 goal scorers -- is 37 goals). The chart is sorted by total output in goals from ages 32-36, i.e. the last five years of Kovalchuk’s hypothetical career (assuming he retires after ten seasons). A few other notes. (1) Bobby Hull has a long row of blank gray boxes; these are his WHL years. (2) active players under 29 (Kovalchuk, Lecavalier, Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos) are at the bottom of the chart; active players older than 29 (Heatley, Kariya, Iginla, Cheechoo, Hejduk, Selanne) are mixed in with the rest of the old people. The black vertical line divides the chart between ages 26 and 27, because Kovalchuk is 27 and what we’re interested in is, how well players of his calibre (defined broadly to include everyone who has ever scored 50 goals in a season) do after this age. The vertical green line divides the chart between ages 31 and 32. The vertical blue line divides 36 from 37. This allows us to look at Kovalchuk’s “future” in five year chunks. The red horizontal line is my subjective line in the sand, above which the careers post-age-26 are acceptable for a long term $90 million deal, below which, less than acceptable. Your results may vary.

Let me make some other observations: Look at the numbers for the Great One and Super Mario. If you knew how they were going to perform from age 27 on, what kind of contract would you offer them? Neither one had careers to speak of after five years (age 32). Look at the other names with lots of red to the left of the black line (50 goal seasons before age 27), i.e. Messier, The Rocket, Bossy. You wouldn’t want to be paying $9 million a year for the careers of any of these guys after the age of 32. Who has the best numbers from age 32 on? The best you can hope for is (Esposito, Mullen, Gartner, Bucyk, Selanne) a bunch of 30 goal seasons with a 40 goal season thrown in once or twice. Before I ran these numbers, my vague notion was that the super big money for Kovalchuk would be worth it if you could get a couple of 50 goal seasons and maybe four or five 40 goal seasons out of him. And I thought I was being reasonable. How many players in the history of the league have been able to pull this off?

Get a number in your head before continuing. Phil Esposito (five 50 goal seasons and two 40 goal seasons). Marcel Dionne (five 50 goal seasons and one 40 goal season). Bobby Hull (four 50 goal seasons and two 40 goal seasons). That’s it. Three guys. Nobody in the last thirty years. But three of the biggest scorers in the history of the sport. They did it. Gartner had a pretty good run of six 40 goal seasons. Mullen, too (one 50 and five 40s). Shanahan had four 40s and one of them was at age 37. Bucyk scored 50 (for the first time!) at age 35. He’s the oldest to do it. Shanahan and Bucyk both scored 40 at age 37. Selanne is the oldest player to have backto-back 40 goal seasons (at age 35-36). Esposito had back to back 60 goal seasons at 31-32. (Just as an aside, look at Mike Bossy’s numbers. Not even Gretzky would string together nine consecutive 50+ goal seasons.) The prospects for former 50-goal-scorers after age 26 decline steadily and quickly. But maybe that’s not a fair predictor in the case of someone like Kovalchuk. Maybe Kovalchuk is a unique case. It occurred to me to look up how many players have done what Kovalchuk has done: tally two 50 and four 40 goal seasons (or better) before age 27. Here they are: Gretzky Yzerman Lemieux Bure Bossy Kurri Robitaille

Lafleur Goulet Ovechkin

There are two extremely pessimistic conclusions to draw from this comparison. (1) Six of these ten are the most spectacularly elite Hall of Fame players in NHL history; (2) none of them put up numbers to speak of after age 32. Ovechkin obviously hasn’t had his chance yet. Three of these guys (at least) were limited by injuries (which is of course part of the problem; people get old). Lemieux, Robitaille and especially Yzerman became on-ice leaders with immeasurable value outside of goal-scoring. Maybe Kovalchuk is one of those guys. A hall-of-famer and a true leader. He hasn’t demonstrated that yet. But neither did Yzerman, really. One more thing about the chart. Check out the second row, which shows the average number of goals by this population at each age. Peak output is at age 26-27, and declines from there. Of course, there are many reasons to throw millions of dollars at aging superstars, and scoring is but one of them; everything from the intangibles of leadership and experience, to the cash crop of merchandising. And there is a reasonable argument to be made that players are over-paid in freeagency not in anticipation of what they will do, but as a reward for what they have done. That argument becomes less tenable as salaries escalate. Even the richest franchises can’t afford more than two or (maaaaybe) three Kovalchuk-sized cap hits. So you want to spend those coupons very carefully. Or else you end up paying $10 million a year to a 20 goal scorer, with a decade left on the deal.

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Growing up in Oil Country most kids learn to skate at a young age and begin playing hockey shortly after. It’s a passion that defines us and feeds young players’ dreams of playing in the NHL. Ultimately, the goal of hockey should only be to have fun, lead an active lifestyle and stay healthy. However, as players get older and want to increase their compete level, they often look for ways to set themselves apart from their teammates. The question is, what can hockey players do to reach a higher level of hockey? According to the pros, the answer lies in a commitment to their sport and proper training. If you’re looking to enhance your game, here are a few tips from the Edmonton Oilers Strength and Conditioning Coach Simon Bennett and the Oilers new Head Athletic Therapist TD Forss to take your game to the next level. Because the consensus is, if you’re training off the ice, it will help to improve your game on the ice. Bennett is the president and co-founder of Body by Bennett, a premier professional health, wellness and training facility, where he provides training and conditioning programs to professional athletes and regular health enthusiasts. He joined the Edmonton Oilers two years ago and is actively involved in the training, conditioning and nutrition of the players. According to Bennett there are three priorities that young players can focus on to enhance their game and demonstrate a healthy athletic lifestyle.

“First and foremost work on building your leg strength,” said Bennett. Bennett suggests players whose main focus is around building endurance and size should focus their workouts on strength inducing exercises. This allows players to build appropriate leg muscle, furthering their fundamental skating skills and core power. Second, Bennett said that a lot of amateur players underestimate the power of good nutrition, but it’s one of the key ingredients to becoming a strong and successful hockey player. “Ensuring proper pre- and post-game nutrition is very important,” said Bennett. When it comes to pre-game or practice nutrition, breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day, crucial to both growing and fully experienced players. Getting the proper proteins and energy early on tends to set the whole body into action for practices and game days. “What I recommend in the mornings is a really solid, complete protein. Players want veggies and fruit and a sufficient amount of sugar or starchy carbs, especially at this crucial time when the body’s ability to absorb or tolerate carbohydrates is highest,” added Bennett. Finally, Bennett stresses the importance of mobility training, starting from a young age. “The best way to explain mobility training is to maintain proper flexibility and balance between muscle groups,” said Bennett. Through proper exercise and strength conditioning, the body’s opposing muscles are able to work together and function properly. However, when one muscle becomes less used than another, the relationship no longer functions, leaving a much higher potential for fatigue and injuries. Also weighing in is TD Forss, the Edmonton Oilers new Head Athletic Therapist. Forss has an extensive background in professional sports therapy, joining the Oilers from his previous seven-year role as the Edmonton Eskimos Head Athletic Therapist. Other professional organizations on his resume include the Calgary Flames and Spokane Chiefs (WHL). Forss suggested, “Proper fitness training for your age and skill level is paramount in preventing injuries. By properly training you can improve your balance and reduce the times you fall or are knocked off the puck.”

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Injury prevention should always be a top priority among hockey players due to the nature and wear-and-tear tendencies of the game. Along with sufficient fitness training, Forss stresses the need for proper equipment sizing and fitting. “Whether it is falling on the ice, tumbling into the boards or being hit by an opponent, contact is a part of hockey. It is very important that you purchase and have your equipment sized by a retailer that is skilled in correct fitting,” said Forss. Last on Forss’ list is the importance of an appropriate warm-up. He suggests that this includes a five to 10-minute cardiovascular component to elevate the heart rate; this can include anything from hitting a treadmill to playing a game of tag. The other component should consist of dynamic stretching with a focus on the muscles most used in hockey and specifically targeting the lower body. Finally, maintaining a good fitness level throughout the entire year helps prevent injuries from occurring. “This includes proper flexibility, a good muscular strength base and excellent cardiovascular sprint conditioning,” added Forss. According to Bennett, one of the more recent

causes of injuries is based on the notion that players are now starting at a much younger age and are continuously playing through the year. “Players now are playing pretty much the same sport from the time they were five or six years of age, so we’re probably seeing a lot more overusing injuries just by virtue of the fact that players have been basically mimicking the same patterns,” said Bennett. Forss adds bruising, caused by the puck, ice, opponents or the boards, to the list of the most common hockey injuries found at a minor hockey level along with sprains of ligaments around a joint, most often to the knees, shoulders or wrists, and muscle strains, most common to the groin, hip flexors and lower back. Like anything, the more you work at the game and maintain a good level of fitness the better you’ll become. While Bennett and Forss both advocate the training side of the game, they agree the top priority in minor hockey is having fun, meeting friends, and practicing an overall active lifestyle.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Look no further than the Hockey Edmonton Magazine • distributed in all Edmonton arenas • 10,000 copies printed per issue • targeted to hockey parents, fans, coaches, etc. (an ideal target market) Our next issue comes out in January (Yearbook Edition).

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Hockey Edmonton Magazine

By Jon Hagan

If you think Athletes Nation is just another fitness centre Dan LaJoie has something to say about that. “We’re a performance centre not a fitness centre,” he says of the 20,000-square foot St. Albert facility. “Fitness is a general quality and makes up only one component of training, and as athletes quickly develop their fitness, the only way to improve performance will be the inclusion of specific qualities. Performance facilities are keenly aware of this reality of training and specialize in the long term development of athletes.” As the Nation’s Director of Athletic Performance, LaJoie oversees a staff of four trainers, each of whom is dedicated to athletic development. LaJoie himself is recognized as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, and also has a bachelor’s degree in science both giving him the theoretical knowledge and background to know what he’s talking about when it comes to training athletes. But it’s his practical experience that really sets him apart. “I had the opportunity (thanks to my baseball mentor Ray Brown) to spend 10 years in the U.S. as an athlete and coach – participating and later implementing and developing athletic training programs,” said LaJoie. “However, what really makes my qualifications unique was my exposure to the late Charlie Francis. As a world renowned speed and power specialist, Charlie’s knowledge and insights into the training of team sport athletes far exceed any other experiences or knowledge I had up to that time, and my opportunity to listen and learn from his expertise heavily influenced my philosophy of training. It’s not

often one gets the opportunity to sit and design programs and discuss the details of training with some one of his calibre, and intelligence.” From time to time, LaJoie also consults with Calgary Flames’ captain Jarome Iginla when it comes to the design of certain programs. “Jarome is a very knowledgeable and experienced athlete who has been able to translate his athletic skills into great on ice performance,” said LaJoie. “His work ethic and character are the foundation for his commitment to athletic excellence. When I work with Jarome, it is a mutual partnership of sharing ideas and past experiences. I listen to his input and offer my own – and then develop the program.” Located just north of Servus Place at 107, 125 Carleton Drive in St. Albert, Athletes Nation not only boasts a well-trained staff, appropriate professional consultants, but a number of training amenities, one of which is specifically designed for hockey players and was unveiled at the end of September. “The Hockey Strategy Centre will include two adaptable training areas, first a miniature dry-land rink measuring 44’ by 32’ with NHL boards and glass, and second a 1,000-square foot skills development area,” said LaJoie. “It was our intention to create a physical and intellectual environment for both coaches and athletes which could adapt to the changing needs of teams and individual players. We have observed many other hockey skills facilities which operate in an assembly line format where athletes move from static station to station. We believe the major flaw in that model is the failure to educate and inspire the intellectual and skill component of training.” According to part-owner Pat Cassidy there certainly is no shortage of inspiration or motivation when it comes to the athletes that train with LaJoie and his team at Athletes Nation. Often the dedication to athletic development is infectious. “It’s a pretty motivating place to be,” said Cassidy. “You can’t help but draw on the athlete’s inspirations and commitments. They all have big dreams and big goals and our primary goal with aspiring hockey players is to help them get where they want to go.” Training athletes to improve their performance is a complicated matter, but, the approach Athletes

Nation takes to help athletes to achieve their goals and to continually improve is simple. They analyze and address what LaJoie calls the athlete’s ‘limiting factors’.

“I found training camp pretty easy,” Elson said. “I felt really good out there.” Chilkie was in agreement and described his improvement in terms of power and speed. “Some guys want to get bigger and bigger. But Dan is strictly speed and power, and this is an area I’ve definitely improved in over the years,” he said.

“Limiting factors are the athletic skills that if not developed to the highest levels would ‘limit’ the athlete’s ability to progress and reach elite level performance,” said LaJoie. “These are further detailed by position, style of play, and individual ability. Once the limiting factors are determined the means and methods to developing these athletic qualities must be selected. Once the plan is successful, it only needs to be repeated from year to year with greater and greater attention to detail and intensity.”

“Overall there are three guys from the dub, along with Erik Christensen of the New York Rangers, and some Edmonton Eskimos that train in the mornings with us,” Elson said. “Training with Christensen is a real treat. He’s got such a great work ethic on and off the ice. We really look up to him,” said Chikie.

So how does this approach work for the athletes? Well, talking with second year WHL forwards Turner Elson of the Red Deer Rebels and Cody Chikie of the Kelowna Rockets, each of whom has had the opportunity to train at other facilities, you get the sense that it’s working pretty well.

“My professional responsibility is to assist athletes from year-to-year in improving their on-ice performance through athletic development means,” said LaJoie. “All things which would impact the development of these abilities fall under my responsibility while athletes are training at Athletes Nation. From the larger details such as building design and training surfaces to the smaller details of the length of the rest intervals between sets and reps of an exercise, all are crucial to long term success.”

“It was our intention to create a physical and intellectual environment for both coaches and athletes which could adapt to the changing needs of teams and individual players.”

“Athletes Nation is probably the best choice I’ve made,” said Elson. “Dan definitely knows what he’s doing,” agreed Chikie. “He’s got a 1200 frame per second camera and he analyzes your every move. It really helps to be able to see yourself like that,” said Elson. “Dan is probably one of the most intelligent guys I’ve worked with. He just does everything differently. He makes me better and makes other people better.” And the workouts aren’t for the faint of heart either. “I workout from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. and then again from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. five days a week,” said Elson. The Rebel winger has been with the Nation for the past two summers.

Dan LaJoie and the rest of the professionals at Athletes Nation take their jobs seriously and are eager to help individual athletes to become the best they can be.

And working with everyone from experienced players as Iginla and Christensen to young players like Chikie and Elson, Athletes Nation is well on its way to becoming a staple in the field of performance development for hockey players.

Chikie, a centreman with the Rockets, has just finished his fifth training with Dan. Each player also recently completed training camp with their respective teams.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

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For this edition of the magazine, we are featuring 26 year-old Patrick Oxtoby, who is a Supply Tech at Edmonton Garrison. Patrick grew up playing hockey, and started officiating two seasons ago. Like most officials, it was a way of staying in the game, and it was his way of giving back to the game he loves. Patrick played organized hockey up to the midget level and still plays on a team with his military unit. We met up with Patrick near the end of summer and he took the time to answer a few questions about officiating hockey in the Hockey Edmonton system.

What kind of training were you provided?

How and when a call should be made as well as the best way to teach players how to play the game.

How have you improved your skills as an official?

Listening to my partners on where to be and how to be set up to make the right call.

What is the toughest part about being a referee?

Knowing the older player are not always looking before shooting the puck.

Ever suffer any injuries as an official?

Minor brushing from shots when players have not looked before shooting.

What made you want to become a hockey official?

How do you handle criticism on the ice?

I just wanted to give back to the program.

I try and see their point of view.

How many games did you officiate last season?

What are your future plans? Would you like to continue as a hockey official?

59.

How many games do you plan on officiating this season? Around 70.

What level of hockey are you currently officiating? Pee Wee to Midget.

What do you enjoy most about officiating hockey games? See the other side of the puck.

Moving up to the next level and to teach younger officials the game.

Do you have comments you wish to share with parents, coaches or anyone watching minor hockey?

To remember the officials are people as well and may make a bad call but also know that we may have a better view of the play then you do. As well if you think that you can do better, put your name in for next year to help. Teach the kids that looking before making a play is going be safer for everyone.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine

Referee Signals BOARDING If a player is checked into the boards in a violent manner, then the ref may call a boarding penalty. A two-minute penalty will be assessed for boarding, and in situations where the offense is more serious (when a player is vulnerable, etc.), a 5-minute major penalty and game ejection may be called.

BODY-CHECKING

If a player pushes, body-checks or cross-checks an opponent from behind anywhere on the ice, a Checking From Behind penalty may be called. It’s a game misconduct (ejection), coupled with a two-minute or five-minute penalty, depending on the severity of the offense. The referee’s signal is a forward motion of both arms, with the palms of the hands opened and facing away from the body, fully extending from the chest at shoulder level.

CHECKING TO THE HEAD

A Minor and Misconduct penalty, or a Major and Game Misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the referee, based on the degree of violence of impact, shall be assessed to any player who checks an opponent to the head area in any manner. A Match penalty could also be assessed under this rule. If a player is injured, a Major and Game Misconduct penalty, or a Match penalty must be assessed.

CROSS-CHECKING

Body-checking is not allowed until the Peewee level in Hockey Edmonton. Delivering a body-check in the lower divisions will result in a two-minute penalty being assessed.

When a player uses the shaft of his stick, held between the hands, to check an opponent at any height. The referee signals with a forward and backward motion of the arms with both fists clenched and about a foot apart. (This signal imitates the action of a Cross-check.)

BUTT-ENDING

ELBOWING

If a player jabs (or attempts to jab) another player with the shaft of the stick above the upper hand, a butt-ending penalty may be called. The ref holds one forearm over the other; the lower is moved back and forth, across the body.

This is when a player is checking an opponent with his elbow. The referee signals by tapping either elbow with the opposite hand.

CHARGING If a player takes more than two steps or strides, or jumps into an opponent when body-checking, a charging infraction may be called. The referee signals by rotating clenched fists around each other in front of the chest. Since body-checking isn’t allowed until the Pee Wee level, you will rarely see this called in the first few years.

CHECKING FROM BEHIND

HIGH-STICKING This occurs when checking an opponent with the stick above the normal height of the shoulders, either purposely or accidentally. A more severe penalty may be called for flagrant high-sticking fouls, including ejection from the game. The referee signals this call by clenching both fists and mimicking a player holding a stick above their shoulders.

HOLDING This is called when a player grabs an opponent’s body or stick with the hands. The referee motions this call by grabbing either wrist with the opposite hand in front of his body.

HOOKING This is called when a player slows down an opponent by hooking his stick on any part of the opponent’s body or stick. The referee signals this call with a tugging motion with both arms.

INTERFERENCE This penalty is called when a player impedes the progress of an opponent who doesn’t have the puck. The referee signals this call by crossing his arms in front of the chest.

KNEEING If a player uses his knee (or sticks his knee out) to take down or check an opponent, the referee may call a kneeing penalty. If the infraction is of a more serious nature, the referee may consider this a major penalty (and a game misconduct) instead of a minor penalty (2 minutes).

MISCONDUCT This penalty may be called when a player exhibits extreme and inappropriate behaviour toward another player or a game official. Depending on the severity of the offense, the player may be given a 10-minute Misconduct or Game Misconduct penalty. It is also a Game Misconduct when a player checks another player from behind. With the exception of Checking From Behind, the penalized team does not play shorthanded.

ROUGHING This penalty may be called when a player uses his arms or fists to hit or punch another player. The signal for this call is a clenched fist and arm extended out to the front or side of the body.

SLASHING This penalty is called when a player deliberately hits an opponent with the stick. The signal for this call is a chopping motion with the edge of one hand across the opposite forearm.

SPEARING Spearing occurs when a player thrusts or jabs the blade of his stick at an opponent. Players are usually ejected from the game for spearing. The signal for this call is a jabbing motion with both hands thrusting out in front of the body.

TRIPPING This penalty may be called when a player uses his stick or any body part to trip the puck carrier. If the player touches the puck prior to contact with the player, there is usually no penalty called. The referee signals this call by striking their leg with either hand below the knee (usually bending down to do so), keeping both skates on the ice.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT

This penalty may be called when a player exhibits poor sportsmanship or inappropriate behaviour on the ice.

Hockey Edmonton Magazine